Ultimate Guide to Bluey's Top 15 Pop Culture Gems

Summary

Bluey

incorporates clever pop culture references that are relatable and enjoyable for viewers of all ages.

References to iconic films and TV shows like

Indiana Jones

and

Stranger Things

add depth and humor to the show's storylines.

Bluey, the Australian animated series and children's show, has achieved global fame over the past four years. The show centers around the endearing Heeler family, who call Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, Australia, their home. Its universal appeal stems from its relatable characters, valuable life lessons, and stories that effortlessly blend heartfelt moments with humor. In addition, Bluey cleverly includes references to popular culture that resonate with older teens and adults, making it even more engaging.

With its realistic portrayal of modern family life, Bluey presents numerous valuable learning opportunities for families, all without being overly sentimental or patronizing. Moreover, the show remains firmly rooted in reality by incorporating various elements of pop culture. Some references are immediately recognizable, while others may require multiple viewings to uncover. Here, we highlight the 10 most exceptional pop culture allusions found in Bluey.

15 Indiana Jones

14 Stranger Things

Playing a game is a common theme in nearly every seven-minute episode of Bluey. The main characters, sisters Bluey and Bingo, often engage in these games with their parents or friends. In the season 1 episode titled "Yoga Ball," Bluey approaches their dad, Bandit, with a specific game request. She asks if they can play the game where they run down the hall while Bandit sings "na-na, na-na" and rolls a ball that they have to avoid by jumping out of the way. Bandit instantly recognizes the game and refers to it as "Raiders." This name is clearly a nod to the iconic adventure film, Indiana Jones and The Raiders of the Lost Ark, which served as the inspiration for Bandit in creating this game for his daughters.

In the episode "Seesaw" of season 2, Chilli and Pom Pom's Mum engage in an intriguing conversation at the playground. The discussion revolves around a TV show, with Pom Pom's Mum expressing her hope for the return of a character in Season 4. Chilli confirms this by asking if she has seen the trailer. Surprised, Pom Pom's Mum asks about the trailer, and Chilli informs her that the character is currently in Russia. The dialogue suggests that the two mothers are discussing Stranger Things, particularly the season 3 finale where Hopper was seemingly killed in an explosion, and the season 4 teaser revealing his survival as a prisoner in Russia.

13 The Lord Of The Rings

Bluey incorporates three references from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring. In the season 2 episode "Featherwand," Bandit quotes Gandalf, saying "You shall not pass," while trying to stop Bingo from running out the front door. In a later season 2 episode titled "Grandad," Chilli runs down a forest path to search for Grandad, Bluey, and Bingo, who are hiding under a tree's roots, reminiscent of Frodo and his friends hiding from the Ringwraiths. The final reference appears in the season 3 episode "Magic," where Bluey uses pretend magic to make Chilli run around the carpet while lying on her side, re-enacting Saruman's battle with Gandalf.

12 Friday

11 Crocodile Dundee

One of the most audacious and unexpected references to popular culture in Bluey took place in the third episode of season 3, titled "Unicorse." In this episode, Bandit disrupts Chilli's reading session with Bluey by using his amusingly silly hand puppet, Unicorse. When Bluey playfully taps Unicorse on the shoulder, the puppet exaggerates an "injury" and exclaims, "Ouch! My back, my neck! My back and my neck!" This scene appears to be a direct homage to the comedy film, Friday, starring Ice Cube, where a character named Ezal, a drug addict and thief, stages a fake slip-and-fall accident in a convenience store and utters the exact same phrase.

Given that the Heelers reside in Australia, it would be logical for the show to reference the 1980s Australian action-comedy sensation, Crocodile Dundee. In a memorable scene from the film, Dundee and Linda find themselves confronted by a thief brandishing a switchblade. Responding nonchalantly, Dundee declares, "That's not a knife," as he unveils his substantial hunting knife. In the episode titled "Muffin Cone" from the second season, Bluey and Bingo's cousin Muffin grasps a plastic toy carrot to mimic slicing a pretend sandwich, prompting Bluey to jokingly echo the iconic words of Crocodile Dundee.

10 My Little Pony

In the season 2 episode, "The Quiet Game," Bingo and Bluey decide to refrain from speaking and instead communicate solely through hand gestures. This causes frustration for Bandit as he attempts to select the perfect Moonlight Unicorn toy for Muffin's birthday. The toys displayed on the shelves bear a striking resemblance to the adored My Little Pony franchise, with some of the figures having names that sound reminiscent of the My Little Pony characters. Examples include Moonlight (a combination of Moon Dancer and Twilight Sparkle), Appledale (reminiscent of Applejack), and Pebbledasher (similar to Rainbow Dash).

9 Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon

In the season 1 episode "The Weekend" of Bandit and Bluey's playful adventures, Chilli emerges after her morning jog. Bluey embraces her lovingly, unveiling an intriguing image displayed on Chilli's smartwatch. This image showcases a rainbow prism beautifully radiating through the silhouette of a dog bone. Astute viewers may delight in recognizing this as a clever nod to the beloved rock album The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd, often affectionately referred to online as The Bark Side of the Moon.

8 Dirty Dancing

7 Bon Jovi's Bad Medicine

The climax of the 1987 romantic film, Dirty Dancing, remains etched in our memories as Baby exuberantly sprints across the grand ballroom, leaping into the air for Johnny to artfully catch her during their captivating performance in the dance competition. Echoing this iconic moment, the episode "Magic" in season 3 of Bluey humorously recreates the scene as Bluey utilizes her imaginary magic powers to orchestrate a dance between Bandit and Lucky's dad, Pat. With flawless execution, the duo concludes their routine with a stunning reenactment of the renowned lift from the revered film.

The episode titled "Fairytale" in season 3 of Bluey is a nostalgic homage to the 80s. Bandit, the father, narrates a story from his childhood during that era, captivating Bluey and Bingo. The episode is filled with numerous references to the 80s, ranging from fashion trends to iconic toys. One particular scene features a close-up of cassette tapes, prominently displaying a tape with the words "Bad Medicine" on top. This detail suggests that Bandit was a fan of Bon Jovi, the musician who released the song in 1988.

6 He-Man & She-Ra

Two of the most popular cartoon shows and toy franchises during the 1980s were He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and its spin-off, She-Ra: Princess of Power. In the Bluey episode titled "Fairy Tale," there is a reference to these iconic shows. During a montage of '80s things, a dog version of He-Man can be spotted on a pair of underwear. Later in the episode, a young Bandit comes across a young Chilli dressed in a She-Ra costume. This nod to He-Man and She-Ra may be familiar to children watching, as both shows have been revived in recent years.

5 Double Dragon

In the episode "Fairytale" of Bluey, there is another intriguing pop culture reference. At the start of the episode, Bandit and his brothers take a break from cycling and visit a convenience store where they stumble upon an arcade game machine. This game features two imposing cobras and two ninja-clad dogs engaging in street battles against malicious adversaries. It cleverly pays homage to the popular game, Double Dragon, where twin martial artists confront rival gangs and villains.

4 The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Bluey is known for the family's imaginative playtime in almost every episode. In the episode titled "Neighbours" from season 1, Bluey suggests that the family construct neighboring homes in the living room. At one point, Bluey attends her mother's book club, and Chilli, holding a red book featuring a green caterpillar, asks, "Did the caterpillar really need to eat that much?" This remark clearly alludes to the beloved children's book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.

3 Dr. Seuss' And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street

In the same episode of "Neighbours," Chilli completes her home construction, only to be greeted by Bluey exclaiming, "Welcome to Mulberry Street!" This prompts Bandit to craft his own house, leading to a series of outrageous and comical escapades. This entire sequence pays homage to Dr. Seuss' initial book, And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street. The book revolves around a young boy named Marco, who vividly imagines an extravagant procession of individuals, vehicles, and peculiar characters striding along Mulberry Street.

2 Furby

1 Jim Morrison

The must-have Christmas toy in 1998 was Furby, an electronic talking owl-like creature that spoke a pretend language called Furbish. This toy gained notoriety for incessantly annoying parents as children played with it nonstop. In Bluey, the kids own a similar toy named Chattermax, which occasionally drives their parents, Bandit and Chilli, a bit crazy. However, Chattermax has made appearances in three episodes of the series: "Hide and Seek," "Dragon," and "Sticky Gecko."

Inspired by his own poem, "The Celebration of the Lizard," Jim Morrison, the iconic frontman of The Doors, bestowed upon himself the moniker of The Lizard King. In his intoxicated state, Morrison regularly incorporated the poem into their live performances, proudly proclaiming his identity as "The Lizard King" to the enthralled crowds. Drawing a parallel to this, in the Bluey season 1 episode, "The Sleepover," Muffin, overcome by sleep deprivation, comically climbs onto a flamingo lawn ornament and whimsically declares herself as "The Flamingo Queen!"